Wimal Cites Vehicle Breakdown After Failing to Appear in Court

COLOMBO (News 1st): Former MP Wimal Weerawansa appeared before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (21) in connection with a long-running case filed over a protest held outside the United Nations office in Colombo in 2016.

Weerawansa appeared before court shortly after a warrant was issued due to his failure to be present when the case was initially called.

The case, filed against Weerawansa and five others, was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama for the recording of further evidence. The charges relate to allegedly causing public inconvenience by staging a protest that obstructed roads near the United Nations office in Colombo.

When the matter was called, the other accused, Jayantha Samarawera, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Piyasiri Wijenayake, Roger Seneviratne and Mohamed Musammil, were present before court. However, Weerawansa was absent.

As witnesses for the prosecution had also failed to appear, the Chief Magistrate fixed the case for further hearing on October 19.

At that stage, the Magistrate issued a warrant for the arrest of Weerawansa and ordered that he be produced before court, while also issuing notices to the prosecution witnesses.

A short while later, Weerawansa arrived at court.

His counsel informed the court that a mechanical fault in the vehicle transporting the former MP had prevented him from arriving on time.

The lawyer requested that the warrant be recalled in light of the circumstances.

After considering the submissions, the Magistrate advised that the relevant application be made tomorrow.

The case was filed over a protest held on February 6, 2016, against the visit to Sri Lanka of then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

According to the prosecution, the demonstration was staged in a manner that obstructed traffic in and around the Thummulla Junction area and the road in front of the United Nations office in Colombo.

The case was instituted by the Cinnamon Gardens Police under provisions of the National Thoroughfares Act and the Police Ordinance, alleging offences relating to causing public obstruction and inconvenience.